Welcome to my first blog post!

On:22-03-2018 / By: Martin Farrant

Welcome to my first blog on my new website, with an online shop (coming soon) for the Ark Stained Glass.

Ark Stained Glass is based at Stoke Bruerne beside the canal and will be reopening on the 7th April 2018 following the winter break. New stock this year includes Turkish tea light lanterns and Dichroic Pendants, as well as the old favourites of suncatchers, trinket boxes, vases, mirrors, clocks and other small items of hand crafted stained glass. I am also selling one-off restored by myself Tiffany-style lampshades, so keep your eye on this site to see what comes in or newly made or restored

As well as making stock for the shop, I also undertake bespoke commissions, repairs and restorations. A lot of my trade comes from the passing narrowboat community, but I also work for land dwellers. Everyone is welcome to come along to the studios and shop at the tunnel mouth, or pop in to see our cabinet (#15) at The Old Bakehouse Antique Centre Abington Ave. Northampton. Say "Hi" to Kim and Steve who run it for me.

If you do come to Stoke Bruerne, make sure to visit my neighbour, Owen the blacksmith, you can watch him at work and buy small items direct from him. Two traditional crafts side by side.

Stoke Bruerne itself makes a lovely day out with the Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum and coffee shop where you can become a 'gongoozler' and watch the boats negotiate the lock. There are 2 excellent pubs, The Navigation and the Boat Inn (which runs scheduled trips through the tunnel in boat "Indian Chief). Narrowboat trip boat Charlie runs regularly throughout the day from the museum to just inside Blisworth Tunnel and back.

If interested in any of the above please contact them individually.

I get asked a lot if I run stained glass courses. I don't at the moment, but I am always happy to share my knowledge, so if there is something you want to know, please ask.